Hosiery clasp



M. DONOVAN HOSIERY CLASP Dec. 11, 1 962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 18, 1960 FIG INVENTOR.

MARION DONOVAN ATTORNEY M. DONOVAN HOSIERY CLASP Dec. 11, 1,962

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 18, 1960 INVENTOR.

MARION DONOVAN f ATTORNEY ite Stas 3,067,478 HOSIERY CLASP Marlon Donovan, 418 Harbor Road, Southport, Conn. Filed May 18, 1960, Ser. No. 29,843 7 Claims. (Cl. 24-443) This invention relates to the art of supporting hosiery and, more particularly, to a hosiery clasp having improved features of construction and design. The invention pertains, in one of its specific aspects, to a hosiery clasp that .1s adapted to be attached to a ladys girdle and to be easily and quickly placed into and out of holding engagement with a stocking, as required.

Conventional ladies garter mechanisms, Which are attached to girdles or other articles of wearing apparel and which include extensible, elastic straps, are provided with sl1de means for adjusting the lengths of the straps and stock ng gripping units at-the free ends 'of the straps. Each gripping unit usually includes a female member having a slot of varying width and a hinged male member which .engages a restricted portion of the stocking and registers with the slot. Inasmuch as each slide means is independent of the stocking gripping unit, separate time-consuming operations are required to adjust the length of the garter mechanism and to effect proper engagement of the gripping unit with the stocking. The clasp of the present invention has its parts so constructed and arranged that adjustment and gripping action are simultaneously performed by a single, simple, expeditious operation requiring the use of only one hand. This is accomplished by merely turning a pivoted device of the clasp which will be described in detail further along herein.

The ability of my clasp to adjustably vary the holding tension applied to a stocking is an important advantage of the invention. Oftentimes, when a lady has been wearing the same stockings for a period of many hours, the stocking fabric tends to lose some of the elasticity which it had as a result of being laundered. As a consequence,

the lady finds it necessary to readjust her stockings in orcontradistinction to the action of gripping units of conventional garter mechanisms which engage small areas of the stocking and apply the total stress to a relatively small number of threads It will be appreciated that the strain in individual tension-stressed threads, when using an ordinary gripping unit, is considerably greater than that created with my hosiery clasp.

An additional advantage of my hosiery clasp is that it minimizes discomfort and does not adversely effect the appearance of the wearers outer garments. The clasp has'its parts so configured and arranged as to generally conform to the contour of the portion of the thigh against which it is normally located. Furthermore, the parts are thin and flat and are so related as to avoid objectionable protrusions or bulges of the character formed by conventional gripping units in ladies outer garments.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a hosiery clasp having novel features of design and construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hosiery clasp which is adapted to be readily and adjustably placed in holding engagement with a stocking.

" tet piece or multi-piece construction.

3,067,478 Patented Dec. 11, 1962 1 further object of the invention is to provide a ladies hosiery clasp having its parts so configured and arranged as to avoid discomfort to the wearer and minimize the possibility of adversely effecting the appearance of the wearers outer garments.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a clasp of the character indicated that is simple and lightweight in design; that is sturdy and durable in construction; that is reasonable in manufacturing cost and that is capable of performing its intended functions in an entirely satisfactory manner.

To the end that the foregoing objects may be attained, a hosiery clasp constructed in accordance with this invention preferably consists of a hanger means which is adapted to be attached to an article of ladies wearing apparel, such as a girdle, and a device connected to the hanger means and adapted to engage the open end portion of a stocking. The hanger means may be of one- In either case, it includes a pair of spaced arms. The device comprises a generally sinusoidal member which extends between and is pivotally connected to the arms. This member is bowed intermediate its ends to conform generally to the contour of a portion of a persons thigh and to prevent accidental turning which might cause the stocking to loosen in use.

Both the hanger means and the device are made of thin, fiat, resilient metal. The metal may be chromium plated or otherwise treated to render it corrosion-resistant. Alternatively, the hanger means and the device may be coated with a thin layer of rubber or a suitable synthetic composition to improve the gripping action of the device and avoid the feeling of coldness when bearing against the users thigh.

The enumerated objects and advantages, together with additional objects and advantages, will be readily understood by persons trained in the art from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which respectively describe and illustrate several forms of hosiery clasps embodying the invention.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a view in front elevation of a recommended form of hosiery clasp constructed in accordance with the invention and secured to the lower portion of a ladies girdle;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the hosiery clasp shown in FIG 1;

MG. 3 is a fragmentary view taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 corresponds to FIG. 1 and illustrates the relative position of the parts during the initial step in applying the clasp to a stocking;

FIG. 5 is similar to P16. 4 and illustrates the relative position of the parts when the stocking is fully secured to the clasp;

FIG. 6 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1 and illustrates a modified form of the invention;

FIG. 7 also corresponds to FIG. 1 and illustrates a further modification of the invention; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view and is illustrative of a still further modification of the invention.

Referring initially to FIGS. 1 through 5, I have illustrated therein a girdle G that is equipped with a clasp C which is constructed in accordance with this invention. The clasp consists of a hanger means H and a device D1 which is adapted to be placed in holding engagement with the upper or open end portion of a stocking S as will he explained further along herein.

Girdle G includes a main body portion 10" and a lower spa /347a hem portion 11. The girdle may be of any desired known construction. For this reason, only necessary portions of the girdle are shown in the drawings.

Hanger means H is of one-piece construction. The hanger means is preferably of inverted U-shaped configuration and comprises an arcuate web 12 and a pair of spaced depending arms 13. Web 12 is secured to girdle hem portion 11. Integral with each arm is an end element 14. Each of these elements is provided with a tongue 15 which is curved forwardly and upwardly to define a corresponding opening 16 (FIG. 3). Ele cuts 14 are somewhat Wider than the remainder of the hanger means.

Device D1 is also of one-piece construction and comprises a generally sinusoidal central member 17 consisting of pluralities of. arcuate upper parts 13, arcuate lower parts 19 and intermediate rectilinear parts 20 which extend between and join successive upper and lower arcuate parts. Sinusoidal member 17 is bowed outwardly and in the same direction as web 12 of the hanger means. As was stated earlier herein, device D1 is resilient. It is also deformable intermediate its ends to conform to the contour of a wearers thigh. Device D1 includes a pair of arms 21, each of which is an extension of a corresponding end of the sinusoidal member. Arms 21 are aligned with each other and with arcuate parts 18 of the sinusoidal member. Each arm registers with an opening 16 to form a pivotal connection with a corresponding hanger arm '13. The free ends of arms 21 are enlarged, as indicated at 22, to prevent disconnection between device D1 and hanger means H.

For the purpose of briefly describing the manner of using the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, it is first assumed that the girdle G and stocking S are being worn by a lady and that clasp C is secured to the girdle in depending relation to the girdle. Device D1 is turned about its pivot connections with hanger means H to the position shown in FIG. 4 so that its ends project outwardly or away from the users thigh. The upper end of the stocking is drawn upwardly between the thigh and device D1 and its upper marginal portion is folded over the device, as shown in FIG. 4. The device and the engaged portion of the stocking are then turned forwardly 180 to place the parts in the relative position shown in FIG. 5. With the parts in this position, device D1 conforms to the contour of the thigh and effects firm holding engagement with the stocking. Natural pull in the stocking threads serves to tighten the gripping action of the clasp. If slack occurs in the stocking due to use, it may be readily taken up or adjusted by giving an additional full turn to device D1.

The modification of the invention shown in FIG. 6 contemplates a hanger means which consists of a pair of generally T-shaped arms 25 in lieu of the one-piece, inverted U-shaped hanger means H of FIG. l. Each arm .25 includes a stem 26 and a cross piece 27 at the upper end of the stem and anchored to the hem portion of the girdle. Device D2 of FIG. 6 is like device D1, earlier described, except that it is provided with a coating 28 of rubber or a similar heat insulating composition that also enhances the gripping action of the device with the stocking. A like coating may be applied to arms 25, if desired.

Reference is next had to FIG. 7 for an understanding of the modification of the invention illustrated therein. This modification differs over FIG. 1 in the configuration of device D3. As in the case of device D1, device D3 is also bowed outwardly and includes arcuate upper parts 2*} and arcuate lower parts 3t). However, the rectilinear parts joining these arcuate parts are of varying length and the loops formed in the device progressively increase in length from each end of member D3 toward its center. Also, all such loops are disposed below the pivoted end members in normal use. The illustrated hanger and loop arrangement permits of ready grasping and manipulation of the upper end of the stoclcing in applying it to the device.

The forms of the invention shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 operate in substantially the same manner as that shown in FIGS. 1 through 5. i

The modified construction shown in FIG. 8 is similar to that illustrated in FIG. 1, 2 and 3. In FIG 8, a hanger arm is identified by numeral 31. Device D4 is similar to the device of FIG. 1 and includes a pair of arms 32, only one of which is shown in the drawings. Each arm 32 extend through and forms a pivotal connection with an opening in the lower end of a hanger arm 31. Each arm 32 has a pair of spaced integral flanges 33 which are disposed to opposite sides of the hanger arm to prevent disengagement between device Do and the hanger arms.

From the foregoing, it is believed that the objects, advantages, construction and operation of my present invention will be readily comprehended by persons skilled in the art, without further description. Although the invention has been herein shown and described in simple and practicable forms, it is recognized that certain parts thereof are representative of other parts which may be used in substantially the same manner to accomplish substantially the same results. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the exact details described herein, but is to be accorded the full scope and protection of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a hosiery clasp, hanger means adapted to be attached to an article of wearing apparel, such as a girdle, and comprising a pair of spaced arms, and a device for engaging the upper end portion of a stocking, said device comprising a generally sinusoidal member including a plurality of spaced arcuate upper parts and a plurality of spaced arcuate lower parts, and a pair of end members, each end member projecting beyond a corresponding end of the sinusoidal member and constituting a continuation of a line which is common to the arcuate upper parts, each end member being pivotally connected to a corresponding arm, said member being bowed intermediate its ends to conform generally to the contour of a portion of a persons leg.

2. In a hosiery clasp, hanger means adapted to be attached to an article of wearing apparel, such as a girdle, and comprising a pair of spaced downwardly projecting arms, and a device for engaging the open end portion of a stocking,said device comprising a generally sinusoidal member including a plurality of spaced arcuate upper parts and a plurality of spaced arcuate lower parts, and a pair of end members, each end member projecting beyond a corresponding end of the sinusoidal member and constituting a continuation of a line which is common to the arcuate upper parts, each end member being pivotally connected to the lower end portion of a corresponding arm, said member being bowed intermediate its ends to conform generally to the contour of a portion of a persons leg.

3. A hosiery clasp according to claim 2 wherein the line which is common to the arcuate upper parts is substantially parallel to a line which is common to the arcuate lower parts.

4. A hosiery clasp according to claim 2 wherein the sinsusoidal member comprises a plurality of normally upstanding loops, said loops progressively increasing in height from each end loop of the sinusoidal member toward its center.

5. A hosiery clasp according to claim 2 wherein the sinusoidal member is normally disposed substantially wholly below the end members.

6. A hosiery clasp according to claim 2 wherein the arms of the hanger means are independent of each other and are generally T-shaped.

7. A hosiery clasp according to claim 2 wherein the hanger means comprises an inverted generally U-shaped member including a web which is connected to the upper ends of the arms, said web being bowed in the same direction as the sinusoidal member.

FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain of 1894 Great Britain Aug. 19, 1920 Great Britain Jan. 14, 1935 Great Britain J an. 6, 1936 Italy Mar. 12, 1937 Switzerland Oct. 2, 1944 

